Coverage detection and indication in multimedia radiocommunication system

Abstract

Whether a service is available for use by a mobile station in a radiocommunication system is ascertained by determining a quality value that represents the mobile station's transmission power capability that is above an amount of transmission power that will be consumed by known losses for the service and determining whether the service is available for use by the mobile station on the basis of a comparison between the quality value and a predetermined number. The quality value may be determined by subtracting the amount of transmission power that will be consumed by known losses for the service from a maximum available power that the mobile station can deliver. Known losses may include the power loss on a channel between the mobile station and a base station, the amount of power that is needed to overcome interference, and the amount of power needed to accommodate the service. The determination of whether the service is available may be displayed to a user of the mobile station, and may be used to activate or abort activation of the service.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of determining whether a service is available for use by a mobile station in a radiocommunication system, the method comprising the steps of: 
       determining a quality value that represents the mobile station's transmission power capability that is above an amount of transmission power that will be consumed by known losses for the service; and  
       determining whether the service is available for use by the mobile station on the basis of a comparison between the quality value and a predetermined number, wherein the step of determining the quality value comprises the step of subtracting the amount of transmission power that will be consumed by known losses for the service from a maximum available power that the mobile station can deliver.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the known losses for the service include a power loss on a channel between the mobile station and a base station. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of: 
       receiving a value representing an actual transmission power sent from the base station;  
       measuring a received power level at the mobile station; and  
       determining the power loss on the channel between the mobile station and the base station by subtracting the received power level from the value representing the actual transmission power sent from the base station.  
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the known losses for the service include an amount of power that is needed to overcome interference. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the known losses for the service include an amount of power needed to accommodate the service. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining that the service is commonly supported by the mobile station and a base station in the radiocommunication system. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying on the mobile station an indication of whether the service is available for use by the mobile station. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of using the quality value to display on the mobile station an indication of expected quality of the service for use by the mobile station. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of activating the service in response to a determination that the service is available for use by the mobile station. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of aborting an activation of the service in response to a determination that the service is not available for use by the mobile station. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of using the quality value to determine whether to change operation of the mobile station from the service to a different service. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service is a first service, and further comprising the step of using the quality value to determine whether to change operation of the mobile station from a second service to the first service. 
     
     
       13. A method of determining whether a service is available for use by a mobile station in a radio communication system, the method comprising the steps of: 
       determining a quality value that represents the mobile station's transmission power capability that is above an amount of transmission power that will be consumed by known losses for the service;  
       determining whether the service is available for use by the mobile station on the basis of a comparison between the quality value and a predetermined number;  
       displaying on the mobile station a first indication of whether the service is available for use by the mobile station; and  
       displaying on the mobile station a second indication of whether at least one other service is available for use by the mobile station,  
       wherein the first and second indications are displayed simultaneously.  
     
     
       14. A method of determining whether a service is available for use by a mobile station in a radiocommunication system, the method comprising the steps of: 
       determining a quality value that represents the mobile station's transmission power capability that is above an amount of transmission power that will be consumed by known losses for the service;  
       determining whether the service is available for use by the mobile station on the basis of a comparison between the quality value and a predetermined number;  
       using the quality value to display on the mobile station a first indication of expected quality of the service for use by the mobile station; and  
       using at least one other quality value to display on the mobile station a second indication of expected quality of a respective one of at least one other service for use by the mobile station,  
       wherein the first and second indications are displayed simultaneously.  
     
     
       15. An apparatus for determining whether a service is available for use by a mobile station in a radiocommunication system, the apparatus comprising: 
       means for determining a quality value that represents the mobile station's transmission power capability that is above an amount of transmission power that will be consumed by known losses for the service; and  
       means for determining whether the service is available for use by the mobile station on the basis of a comparison between the quality value and a predetermined number, wherein the means for determining the quality value comprises means for subtracting the amount of transmission power that will be consumed by known losses for the service from a maximum available power that the mobile station can deliver.  
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the known losses for the service include a power loss on a channel between the mobile station and a base station. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
       means for receiving a value representing an actual transmission power sent from the base station;  
       means for measuring a received power level at the mobile station; and  
       means for determining the power loss on the channel between the mobile station and the base station by subtracting the received power level from the value representing the actual transmission power sent from the base station.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the known losses for the service include an amount of power that is needed to overcome interference. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the known losses for the service include an amount of power needed to accommodate the service. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising means for determining that the service is commonly supported by the mobile station and a base station in the radiocommunication system. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising means for displaying on the mobile station an indication of whether the service is available for use by the mobile station. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising means for using the quality value to display on the mobile station an indication of expected quality of the service for use by the mobile station. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising means for activating the service in response to a determination that the service is available for use by the mobile station. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising means for aborting an activation of the service in response to a determination that the service is not available for use by the mobile station. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising means for using the quality value to determine whether to change operation of the mobile station from the service to a different service. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the service is a first service, and further comprising means for using the quality value to determine whether to change operation of the mobile station from a second service to the first service. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus for determining whether a service is available for use by a mobile station in a radio communication system, the apparatus comprising: 
       means for determining a quality value that represents the mobile station's transmission power capability that is above an amount of transmission power that will be consumed by known losses for the service;  
       means for determining whether the service is available for use by the mobile station on the basis of a comparison between the quality value and a predetermined number;  
       means for displaying on the mobile station a first indication of whether the service is available for use by the mobile station; and  
       means for displaying on the mobile station a second indication of whether at least one other service is available for use by the mobile station,  
       wherein the first and second indications are displayed simultaneously.  
     
     
       28. An apparatus for determining whether a service is available for use by a mobile station in a radio communication system, the apparatus comprising: 
       means for determining a quality value that represents the mobile station's transmission power capability that is above an amount of transmission power that will be consumed by known losses for the service;  
       means for determining whether the service is available for use by the mobile station on the basis of a comparison between the quality value and a predetermined number;  
       means for using the quality value to display on the mobile station a first indication of expected quality of the service for use by the mobile station; and  
       means for using at least one other quality value to display on the mobile station a second indication of expected quality of a respective one of at least one other service for use by the mobile station,  
       wherein the first and second indications are displayed simultaneously.